This guy is an amazing teacher, his dialog is perfect and his descriptions on how to properly build each posture is superb. If you really want to practice the Ashtanga series with full commitment then you will enjoy this video. Everytime you play it you will hear something new, it could be the way you are placing your feet on the mat or where to look in a posture.

I know some people think that 90 mins is a long time and I was introduced to yoga doing 90 min practices so for me that doesn’t really seem to be a long time (I can easily do 3-4 hours of yoga) so this is somewhat of a disclaimer. However I don’t thing a 60 min routine can do yoga justice at all.

This is a great video and once you get the Ashtanga Primary series down you will spend less time trying to “figure” out how to get into posture and more time with your breath and meditation. This video gives you a really great foundation to do that.

Namaste

I bought this DVD and have been very pleased with it. Not only is it less expencive then some of the other DVDs on the same subject, but it is very informative.

I think that this is a great DVD on Ashtanga Yoga. Well worth the price.

Ok, I will freely admit that I get a little caught up in the external aspects of most yoga DVDs, relishing in the trippy music and gorgeous locations almost as much as the yoga and instruction, so I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about this one. The production value is very pared-down compared with many of the other oyga DVDs out there, with just Richard solo amidst a lovely but simple background and there is no background music at all. What you DO get is a level of teaching and serenity that astounded me. You also get the absolute purity of the Primary Asthanga Series as it was taught by Pattabhi Jois. It took me a few minutes to adjust to Richard’s energy, it’s different, but he’s very sweet, very grounded and with a very soft and soothing presence. This is someone who has been doing Asthanga for decades and still loves it so much, he’s still very connected to the subtleties and magic of it all.

I’ve heard so many teachers working with the same exact postures and somehow he managed to gives cues, instructions and beautiful metaphors that enabled me to find a new depth and power in every single posture I did, opening to them in completely new ways. The magic is in the details, I often find, whether it’s a film, a song or a good yoga class, and the way Richard can guide you through a very daunting series with such tranquility, encouragement, patience and meticulous detail without ever taking away from your own experience or where you are in your practice…well, it’s stunning.

Personally, while I have done Hatha and Kundalini for over 15 years I’d found Asthanga series to be too intimidating and assumed I had to be in athletic condition to even begin to attempt this. The Primary Series is about 2 hours long in its entirety, and I’d say I can do about half right now on a good energy day. Then it gets into a level of stamina, flexibility and balance I have yet to experience, but with this DVD and his teaching I now have no doubt that daily practice will get me there, in my own time. And instead of the last hour seeming like an impossible dream, it inspires me. That’s the magic of a truly great teacher.

The series itself is a wonderful combination of Sun Salutations (A & B), standing poses to stretch, open and build stamina and strength, and then the second hour is where the nitty gritty Asthanga kicks in with incredibly deep stretches, arm balances, a lengthy and lovely shoulder stand sequence and a few pretzel moments that I can only imagine must feel liberating and wonderful.

I’ve read and heard that being able to do the Primary Series and master it could take years, and I see why. But I feel even an advanced beginning yogi could benefit from this DVD. Even when I did just the first 30 minutes or so over the weekend I felt tremendous benefits and discovered new layers thanks to Richard’s expertise. He glides through every movement as though he were weightless and partially made of rubber, it’s really something to see. Such grace and poise can only come from dedication and absolute presence and respect for the work. I’m so glad I heeded the glowing reviews here and bought this DVD. This will be an instrumental tool in my growth as a yogi for years to come.